"Enough already": Liverpool Metro Mayor criticises briefings culture in Government
Steve Rotheram has hit out at 'gutless' people, in a new statement issued on X
Last updated 10 hours ago
The Labour Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, has criticised a culture of anonymous briefings from within Government.
He has taken to social media to hit out at comments, reportedly emanating from Downing Street, about Andy Burnham, his counterpart as Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester.
It comes after Mr Burnham's bid to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election was blocked by Labour's National Executive Committee.
Mr Rotheram wrote on X yesterday that people within Government responsible for the whispering campaign against Mr Burnham were "gutless".
He added: "These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents.
"For the sake of our party, please just stop."
Mr Burnham has complained that "people just think they can say what they like to the media" in the aftermath of his bid for the seat being blocked.
Last week, Labour issued a statement saying the decision to block his bid to stand for the seat was taken to avoid an 'unnecessary' Mayoral election in Manchester, which would impact party resources.
The Prime Minister, speaking yesterday, also refused to say whether he would personally join on-the-ground campaigning efforts in Gorton and Denton, a constituency in Greater Manchester which Labour hopes to hold when voters go to the polls.
Labour announced on Saturday its candidate in the by-election would be Angeliki Stogia, a Manchester city councillor for Whalley Range.
An early opinion poll has suggested Labour's support could crumble in the seat, with Reform and the Greens picking up a larger share of the vote.